GORDO BANKS PANGAS

October 5, 2019

Anglers –

 The busy fall season has already started, we saw much larger crowds of anglers arriving and this will continue through November. Last week we were all closely watching the development and progress of Tropical Storm Norda, we ended up being very fortunate as this system stayed along the mainland and never made much impact at all on Southern Baja, just a few sprinkles and cloud cover and of course increased tropical humidity. Weather patterns are changing progressively now, cooler mornings, though high temperatures are still around 90 degrees. Forecast looks clear for now, which is a relief for all of the vising anglers and fleet operators as well,

Calm ocean now, with very slight breezes, water temperature in the 83/84 degree range and clear blue water close to shore. Bait has consisted of sardinas, being netted near the marina jetty areas, also some caballito, ballyhoo and slabs of squid available. Main fishing grounds being concentrated on have been from Palmilla Pint to Iman Bank and in between.

The action for yellowfin tuna slowed way down, as more black skipjack were schooling on the same tuna grounds, early in the week a handful of yellowfin up to 70 lb. were landed, but after that it was more dorado and wahoo which were dominating the action, though over the weekend the tuna action did seem to start back up near the Iman bank, as several yellowfin tuna in the 40 to 60 lb. class were accounted for.. A new group of dorado moved in, especially off of the Palmilla Point, where limits were the rule for fish of 10 to 20 lb., they were striking on a variety of trolling lures as well as baits. Inspectors are now regularly checking limits, so make sure to not go over your two fish limit of dorado.

Wahoo became more active as well, areas to the north of Punta Gorda, as well as off of Palmilla produced wahoo to over 40 lb., trolling Rapalas accounted for the majority of strikes, some charters accounted for up to three ‘hoo, which is good for this early in the season.

We heard of some larger sized bull dorado on the Pacific, up to 40 lb., though no big numbers at all. Also we heard of a handful of cow sized yellowfin tuna being encountered offshore traveling with porpoise, we expect to start seeing these large tuna to make their way towards the Gordo Banks soon, as they are running behind schedule this year.

Not much going off the bottom, though there were a few amberjack in the 50 lb. class landed, also a selection or pargo, cabrilla, bonito, pompano and triggerfish. Current has slacked, so maybe that will help improve bottom action, though most anglers now have preferred to target the surface species.

Billfish action out of San Jose del Cabo was scattered, a few sailfish and striped marlin being the main deal, found on the same grounds such as Iman Bank.

The combined sportfishing fleet launching out of the panga area from Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out an estimated 102 charters for the week and anglers reported an approximate fish count of: 3 sailfish, 5 striped marlin, 22 yellowfin tuna, 325 dorado, 24 wahoo, 12 leopard grouper, 14 Mexican bonito, 16 yellow snapper, 12 big eye jack, 12 barred pargo, 8 pompano, 5 sierra, 9 amberjack and 75 triggerfish.

Good Fishing, Eric